One of the beautiful bays in the Tufi area of Oro Province, Papua New Guinea.
Headhunt Revisited will raise awareness, inspire, and give back.
A one-hour documentary is currently in production, and is slated to premiere at the deYoung Museum of Art in San Francisco (date TBD). A traveling exhibit of Caroline's art, complemented by Michele and Karen's photography is also planned, and a book has been outlined. Eventually, there may also be an online component.
Raising awareness:
Outside of the South Pacific region, most people don't know where Papua New Guinea is. The Solomon Islands are recognized by many only as having "something to do with WWII." Headhunt Revisited will educate and inform the world about this incredible region, its people, cultural traditions, and environmental treasures. The symbiosis of local traditions with such a rich, but threatened eco-system cannot be over-stated.
Inspiration:
Caroline and Margaret's journey was news in the early 1930s, but time has erased all awareness of their accomplishments. The Headhunt project will bring their story and Caroline's artwork out from dusty bookshelves and warehouses and into the light of day for a new audience. As project spokesperson Lauren Hutton noted, "This is a story that must be told." That story has proven to be an inspiration to people from all walks of life and from all over the world, women in particular.
Giving back:
Headhunt commissioned the re-creation of a large feather headdress by a master craftsman, Siaka Heni, from the village of Hanuabada, and then donated it to the Papua New Guinea National Museum in Port Moresby. Heni was invited to showcase his creation at a reception hosted by the U.S. ambassador at the end of the expedition. He now enjoys renewed status in his community. In the early 20th century, missionaries and plantation owners forbade this particular style of headdress for its cultural symbolism, and nearly all remaining examples were burned. Only a few rare pieces exist in private collections.
Giving back:
The project donated large color prints of many of Caroline's paintings to the Solomon Islands National Museum, and to Dame Carol Kidu, Minister of Community Development for the PNG parliament. Due to their age and fragility, the original paintings must stay in the United States, but the prints can be displayed. These otherwise inaccessible images will pay homage to traditional heritage, and are rich in historical, ethnographic detail.
Giving back:
The project will donate a portion of proceeds from its book to a special fund established through the PNG Parliament, to assist a worthy local female student in art or anthropology.